Dance to the Music

Lately, Charlie has been "dancing" every time he hears a beat.

Here he is in the kitchen while the older boys were watching Chicka Chicka Boom Boom on the laptop.

Bleh

Bleh. That's how we all feel lately. We were planning on leaving for San Antonio on Sunday morning. Long story short, all the boys got a stomach bug. We're getting over it. Maybe.
Regardless, we are all restless and desperate to find ways to entertain ourselves. I've buried my nose in a new(ish) book, Jackson has blown through his summer workbooks, Charlie has been perfected his grumpy whine (and sleeping less than ever). Cooper, well, he took a pen that I left on the couch (after writing birthday thankyou notes) ... and he drew some pictures ... on the blanket that we have draped over the couch protecting it from potential poop and throw-up. Also drew on the floor, and himself. I tried to get mad. But it was kinda funny.




Last night, Jackson decided that he wanted to ride his bike again (he gave it up after a few falls a while back). We hadn't pushed him. Seems like it's better to let him decide when he felt like trying again. Plus, I'm lazy. And never think to get it out when he can really practice.
After we put Charlie to bed last night, we all hung out in the front yard, and here's a video of my sweet 4 year old on his big boy bike last night - and my sweet 2 year old being his usual silly, and endearingly oblivious, self. (Excuse my annoying voice).

Father's Day

After dinner on Father's Day (which Colin ended up cooking), the boys had popscicles outside. Colin hosed them down after they were done, and started a 20 minute water fight with the hoses. I was hysterical. Jackson was IN HEAVEN. He could not stop squealing and screaming and laughing. Cooper wasn't really feeling it ... unless he had control of the hose.

Jackson and Colin were SOAKED by the end of it.
Cooper and I stayed fairly dry from our view on the patio.

Cooper's Big Boy Bed

Never thought the day would come- but, we converted Coop's crib into a toddler bed. Not sure why, but he is going to sleep great in it. Actually he still sings and talks to himself for at least an hour almost everytime we put him to bed (regardless of how late it is).
But he is staying in it (surprisingly). In fact, this morning when he woke up shouting, "Moommmmmmy, I need to go Peeeeeeeepeeeeee!" And waited until I made it in there to get up.

I had the zoom lense on our camera, so these pictures are a bit close-up.

"Cooper, do you like your big boy bed?" "Yes, it's big. It's this big."


All three had fun climbing in and out.









So proud of Cooper.
Seems like yesterday he was sitting on a blanket sucking on his bottom lip while we switched Jackson from the crib to the toddler bed.

Jacob's Reward Farm

Earlier this week, I took the boys to a small farm in Parker, Texas ... about 25 minutes away. We met up with a few others from our mom's group.

Not so sure ...

Then uncontrollable laughing/grunting/weird noise.
It was really funny. Maybe he was imitating the goat?!
I wish I had it recorded.


Not that it isn't fun to bring Charlie and Cooper to new places ... but Jackson is at such a wonderful age for this - able to really talk about everything, and he can ask questions. He's a very observant and inquisitive little boy. A simple answer almost never cuts it. I can't stay ahead of his questions.



Charlie didn't quite know what to think about the giant white dog that kissed him on the mouth.

I never knew that Alpacas were so funny looking.
I couldn't stop laughing at their funny hair.
This one still had a baby tooth that hadn't fallen out yet.
Did you know that they don't have top teeth (like sheep) ... or so said the farmer ...

This one looks like she has highlights.

The farmer showed the boys how to spin the wool from the sheep.


It was a fun little excurssion.
If only we hadn't gotten chigger bites.

Charlie's Peter Rabbit Party

Charlie's party was on Saturday. I LOVE birthday parties. Any kind of party, really. But birthdays are so special. No matter what you do to celebrate, you just can't beat cake, ice cream, and a bunch of people singing to you. I have been known to get a little carried away with the details, but it's so much fun for me. I wish I felt as enthusiastic about exercising or cleaning showers. Usually I start working on them well before the date of the party, but this time around I dilly-dallied and didn't get started until a few weeks ago.

Anyway, I'm willing to admit this because I already know I am crazy ... I bought little Peter Rabbit books in the dollar spot at Target about 3 years ago (while I was pregnant with Cooper). I bought 25 ... thinking how much fun a Peter Rabbit party could be, and these would be perfect favors. Then Colin got me a cupcake book that had this idea in it, and it was official ... had to start planning a Peter Rabbit themed birthday. But Cooper's first birthday ended up to be Halloween-themed, so the little books sat in the top of the closet in the nursery until now.

Here is some of the Peter Rabbit inspired food ...

I took a box from Calloway's Nursery and glued the little fence to it. Put burlap down on the bottom, and lined the edges with twine.


The little veggies are made out of starbursts, candy-coated cornflakes, and more candy.

Cupcakes were chocolate with chocolate butter cream icing.
Then rolled them into crushed oreos.

Mmm... Cake batter bark. Found the recipe here.


Oreo truffles - that were supposed to look like heads of lettuce.





GIANT marshmallows.


Carrots in ranch - one of the "healthy" things on the table.
I love the little cups - which are from Bake it Pretty - one of my favorite sites for fun cake decorating supplies.


The only other healthy choice in contrast to all the sweets.


Blackberry Cobbler.
Colin made it, along with deviled eggs.


Charlie's party wouldn't have been complete without them.


And Peter Rabbit's little blue jacket cookies.
I wish I could think of another reason to ever use a jacket-shaped cookie cutter.


We put the drinks in the wheelbarrows.
Beer in the big one, juice boxes in the little one : )

We also had sliders (Thank you Pawpaw Kevin for taking charge of the grill) and coleslaw, bunny shaped fruit snacks, Annie's bunny cookies ...
We sent lots of left-overs home with the party people.
You can't have too much food.

Some decorations...







I used Easter bunnies we have collected from the past few years ...

Lavender, strawberry, and tomato plants




Paper Mache Letters found at JoAnn's.
Mini veggies from Bake it Pretty.



Favors







We had a lot of fun ...


The kids decorated flower pots and then planted some carrot seeds in them.


Sweet Ann. She wrote a note to Charlie that said,
"Charlie, the day you were born, you were an angel."



Will decorated a flower pot for his son, Daniel, since Daniel was more interested in running around...

We hid little carrots around the yard that were filled with candy for the kids to find.






Margaret got a little dirt on her face ...

Could she be cuter?



The kids cooled off in the ice.

There was a man party at the grill.








Jackson was scared of the candle, but helped blow it out anyway.










This little munchkin brings an unbelievable amount of joy to our lives.


Happy birthday Charlie!